Kosovo PM: EU âbeing soft with Serbiaâ
Kosovo Prime Minister accuses EU of being soft on Serbian influence in the Balkans
The Prime Minister of Kosovo has said the EU is âbeing soft with Serbiaâ as the west attempts to disrupt historic ties between Belgrade and Moscow.
Speaking to the ±«Óătv in Pristina, Albin Kurti warned that âKosovo should not payâ as the bloc tries âmove (Serbia) out from the influence of the Kremlinâ.
Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo â already difficult - have ratcheted up in recent months.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, after years of strained relations between its Serb and mainly Kosovo Albanian inhabitants.
The territoryâs independence has been recognised by the United States and major EU countries, but Serbia, backed by Russia, refuses to do so, as do most ethnic Serbs inside Kosovo.
In May protestors clashed with Nato troops over the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors following controversial elections in majority Serb towns in Kosovoâs north.
Local officials had resigned their posts after Mr Kurtiâs government refused to create a long-promised Association of Serbian Municipalities.
In elections to replace the officials, boycotts by Kosovan Serbs saw a turnout of just three percent, prompting accusations that the new mayors lacked a democratic mandate.
The EU, UK and US have all urged the creation of the Association of Serbian Municipalities â but Kosovoâs government fears it will lead to a divided âstate within a stateâ and the EU has even imposed economic sanctions on the territory.
Mr Kurti says the strong relationship between Kosovo and its allies is under threat because they are working to persuade Serbia to sever ties with Russia.
âIf an autocrat is friends with Putin, for changing that a democratic country like Kosovo should not pay. The autocrat should payâ
Serbian President Aleksandar VuÄiÄ, who has traditionally backed Moscow, condemned Russiaâs invasion on Ukraine but refused to impose sanctions, and has come under increasing pressure to change track.